“Ashwin! You have your powers back!” Jade shouted, staring at him.
“Looks like,” Ashwin said, staring down at his hands. “What the hell did your sisters do?”
“Something amazing,” Jade said, grinning. “But we’ve got problems,” she said, as the demons rounded the corner, racing toward them. What are we going to do?”
“The only thing we can do,” Elijah said. “Fight.”
“But there’s so many of them!”
“And there’s a lot of us!” Micah shouted, dropping to his hands and knees.
“Ah, Micah, what are you doing?”
“Jade, I would get back if I were you,” Elijah said, as he flung a ball of fire toward the vampires and demons. It hit the ground, spreading across the hall, and blocking their path.
“Why would I…” Jade trailed off, her eyes widening as Micah’s body glowed a bright yellow, his body transforming to a three-headed lion. “And here I thought to watch a werewolf transform was weird!”
“Jade, come on!” Ashwin shouted, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her down the path. “Elijah bought us a few minutes but not much!” He shouted as they slid to a stop, demons, and vampires rounding the corner. “Uh oh.”
“They knew we were coming!” The leprechauns shouted, raising their knives high in the air.
“Where did you get those?” Jade asked.
“Their our sticks!” One of the leprechauns shouted. “Now are we going to do this or what?”
“I don’t think we have a choice,” Jade said, picking up the stick at her feet and breaking it in half. “Elijah, you had better not let me down! Because I’m afraid we’re in this together!”
Chapter 34
“Take that!”
Jade ducked, spinning on her heel, and striking the stick forward. Piercing it through the chest of the vampire.
“Agh!” The vampire groaned, staring down at the stick, as it stuck out from his chest, before raising his eyes to look at her. “Witch. You’re going to pay for that!” He disappeared in a puff of smoke.
“That’s what they all say,” Jade said, glancing over her shoulder at Micah, as he lunged forward. His three heads struck forward, biting into the vampires and she cringed. “Remind me never to get on his bad side,” she muttered, ducking, as a fireball streaked over her head. “Elijah!”
“Sorry, Jade!” Elijah shouted. “But look out!”
Jade glanced over her shoulder, scrambling back, and lifting the stick in her hands as the demons herded toward her. “There’s too many of them!” she shouted.
“I know!” Elijah shouted back, as he fought off a demon and a couple of vampires. “And they all want me!”
“They don’t just want you!” Ashwin shouted. “They want me and Jade too!”
“Then how about we get the hell out of here!” Elijah shouted, blasting fire from his hands. The force knocked the demons back, and he turned, racing down the pathway.
“Are we supposed to follow him?” Jade asked, looking at Ashwin.
“I don’t think we really have a choice,” Micah said, reverting to his human self, nodding to the leprechauns, and they all raced down the path after Elijah, where are we going?” Jade asked, sliding to a stop behind him.
“Up here,” Elijah said, pointing to the ladder.
“Where’s it lead to?”
“Home.” Elijah gripped the ladder and made his way up it.
“You’re telling me there’s been an entrance to the underworld here this whole time?” Jade asked, glancing over her shoulder as the demons and vampires hurried after them. “Ah, guys. We might wanna hurry!”
“There are entrances to the underworld in all different places of the world, Jade,” Ashwin told her, as he followed her up the ladder. “Leprechauns, are you still with us?”
Silence sounded below him, and he turned, watching as the leprechauns disappeared from sight. “Where’d they go?”
“Probably to find their family,” Elijah said, as he threw open the storm drain and pulled himself out, staring at the people dressed in costumes flooding the streets. “Well, well, looks like it’s Halloween,” he said, holding a hand out and helping Jade out.
“Thanks,” Jade said, straightening, and staring around the at the kids on the streets. “Oh, Halloween. I love Halloween!”
“You do?” Ashwin asked, raising a brow at her. “Why? It’s a pointless holiday!”
“Pointless? Did you just say pointless?” Jade asked, staring at him in shock. “How can you say such a thing?”
“Because it’s the one holiday, I can’t for the life of me understand. Why do people want to dress up, be these scary monsters and beg for candy?”
“Because sometimes, it’s nice to pretend to be someone or something else for a day,” Jade informed him. “When my mom died, Halloween was an escape for me, plus, it also marks the anniversary of the day I lost my baby.”
“Jade…” Ashwin trailed off, swallowing. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“How could you. It’s not like we really know each other,” Jade said, as she walked forward. “Now the way home is…” she trailed off, her eyes suddenly widening when she saw the U.S. Bank Stadium. “Wait a minute. We’re in Minneapolis?” She sighed. “Well at least I’m closer to home then I was!” She turned, weaving through the mass of people, bumping into a young man.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” she cried, as the man moved past her. She frowned, something about the blonde man looking familiar. “Sky?”
The man didn’t turn, and Jade sighed again. “Must be my imagination,” she murmured, gesturing Elijah, Micah, and Ashwin behind the bushes. “Come on. I know a faster way of getting home,” she said, before disappearing in a reign of electricity.
***
“Sky, are you okay?”
“Am I okay?” Sky asked, jerking his head from his thoughts, and taking a bite from the pumpkin, shaped cookie, laughing at the question, thinking that there were a million different ways it could b answered. “Yes. I’m fine. Why?”
“Well, you seem kind of lost,” Stella said, squeezing his arm. “Do you need to sit for a minute?”
“Nah, I’m fine,” Sky told her, brushing her concern away. “Although, I thought I heard a voice say my name.”
“I heard it too,” Winston told him, adjusting his cowboy hat as they walked. “Some dark-haired woman, but she was moving so fast I didn’t even get a good look at her. She also looked kind of crazy.”
“Hmm. I wish I knew,” Sky said, tapping a finger against the side of his head. “It would be really nice if my memories will come back to me.”
“They will,” Sherilyn told him, as they walked. “Just give it time, but right now, let’s just enjoy the holiday, okay. The kids are so excited !”
“Well, I’m excited to,” Sky said, swiping a piece of candy from the bag Stella was holding. “Plus, I do love candy!”
“Who doesn’t like chocolate?” Connor asked, elbowing him. “Uh oh. Yo better let Mom inspect that for you.”
“Oh, don’t silly!” Sherilyn cried, lowering the goblin mask. “You’re all old enough to inspect your own candy. Hey kids.”
“Hey, Grandma!” Michael, Matt, Lisa, and Stephanie cried in unison.
“Did you get anything good?” Sherilyn asked, peering over their shoulders.
“Oh yeah!” Michael cried. “We got Reese’s, and Hershey’s and…”
“And starbursts!” Stephanie added.
“And M&M’s!” Matthew cried. “Don’t forget about those.
“And these weird things,” Lisa added, holding up the packet. “They look like worms!”
“That’s because they are,” Stella told her. “Sour worms. They’re really good!”
“And I really like your costume,” Sky said, nodding to the green mask she was wearing, the black jacket, black pants, and the knee-high socks. “It’s so cool!”
“And look so real,” Stella added, poking the mask. “Where’s Shane?”
<
br /> “Oh, he’s around here somewhere. Probably scaring some young children,” Sherilyn said, laughing. “He is a kid at heart. Where’s your costume, Sky?”
“He didn’t want to dress up,” Stella said, lifting the hem to her pilgrim costume, and glaring at her brother. “He said he wasn’t in the Halloween spirit.” She rolled her eyes. “Lame.”
“You shall be punished!
The shout sounded behind him and Sky jumped. He spun around, letting out a shriek as a vampire appeared behind him. “Ahh! Vampire!”
“Haha! I got you!” Shane cried laughing as he pulled the false fangs from his mouth, grinning through the white face paint that was covering his face.
“Oh yeah, you did!” Connor said, laughing, as he pointed his fake sword at Shane. “I think he might have peed his pants a little.”
“It’s more like he could have given me a heart attack,” Sky said, holding a hand to his chest, eyeing his stepfather, then glancing over at Connor. “You’re a pirate?”
“Aye. Aye.” Connor saluted him, jabbing his sword into Sky’s back. “And now it’s time for you to walk the plank!”
“Will you stop poking everyone with that thing?” Sky asked, grabbing the sword from him, and staring at his family. “You’re all crazy! Where’s Dillon?”
“Right behind you,” Dillon said, walking up behind them, dressed out as a skeleton. “And look at Diego!” he cried.
“And what are you?” Sky asked, squatting down to be at eye level with the boy.
“I’m a pumpkin!” Diego cried, pointing to his orange costume.
“Probably the cutest pumpkin I have ever seen,” Sherilyn said, picking Diego up and lifting him high in the air.
Diego squealed in excitement.
“You do realize that all of you are crazy, right?” Sky asked, staring at all of them.
“Crazy about Halloween, yes,” Sophia said, walking up to them, and pressing a kiss to Connor’s cheek, the fake serpents on her head bobbing as she moved.
“And what is it you’re supposed to be?” Sky asked.
“I’m the great Medusa!” Sophia cried, spinning around in a circle. “Do you like it?”
“I…” Sky trailed off, something flashing deep in his memory, and he gasped. He grabbed Winston’s arm, steadying himself. “Whoa…”
“Sky, are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just a little wobbly,” Sky said. “I think something’s trying to break through. Some sort of memory.” He frowned. What am I seeing? Is that a jellyfish? And that… is that a woman on the ground? Who is she? Is she okay? He pulled himself from his thoughts. “I can’t make sense of it. It’s like a big puzzle I’m trying to put back together.”
“The brain is one of the most fascinating parts of the human body, Sky,” Stella told him. “It’s unique, and hard to make sense of, but it sounds like your brain is finally starting to heal, which means, your memories will be coming back sooner or later.”
“Does that mean we won’t see him anymore?” Matthew asked, looking up at him with sad eyes.
“Not at all,” Sky said, poking the boy’s nose, grinning at his laughter. “Because even if I do get my memories back, I could never forget about any of you. You’re my family, and there is no way I’m giving that up.”
“Good answer,” Winston said, winking at him. “Now come on. We’ve still got four hours of trick or treating left to do.”
“Agh. I am going to be exhausted by the time this day is over!” Sky cried as he weaved through the masses. “You people sure do take your holidays seriously.”
Chapter 35
“Mermaids? Did she just say, mermaids?” Jasmine asked, glancing at the women around her. “What do mermaids have to do with anything?”
“They’re mythical creatures,” Jessi said. “Some call them sirens, who lure men with their voices as they sing a song. Luring them to their deaths. Maybe they were banished here? To keep from doing any harm?”
“How do you know so much about mermaids?” Josslyn asked, raising a brow at her daughter.
Jessi shrugged. “I like to read.”
“But they’re so pretty!” Jami cried. “How can something so pretty be so…” She trailed off. “Wait. I get it.”
“Took you long enough,” Josi said, rolling her eyes. “So what do we do? Do we save them?”
“I think we have to,” Jordyn said. “I used to do some reading up on mermaids too. Considering the Little Mermaid was my favorite movie as a kid.”
“Oh, I remember,” Jorja said, laughing. “You were obsessed with the movie!”
“Anyways, from what I read, mermaids are just misunderstood. They’re just like us. They just want to be loved. We just have to remind them of that.”
“And what about Melina?” Josi asked.
“I’ll go find her,” Josslyn said. “I’ve dealt with her before, I will do it again.”
“But you’re not the one who killed her!” Jasmine cried. “Julie did. You can’t go alone. I’ll go with you.”
“I’ll go too,” Jorja said, she glanced at the girls. “How about you four go after the mermaids.”
“Alone?” Josslyn asked, staring at Jorja. “Jorja! They’re just kids!”
“We are not just kids,” Josi said, glaring t her mother. “Or did you forget that we’re witches too? We can handle ourselves.”
Josslyn returned her daughter’s glare. “That may be true, but you’re still young. You could get yourselves killed!”
“No, they have me,” Jami said, lifting her chin. “I can heal, remember? Plus we’ll be together, and what do you always tell us.”
“That we’re stronger together,” Josslyn said, sighing. “Fine, but be careful.”
“You too,” Jessi said. “Come on, Jordyn.” She looped her arm through her cousin’s. “I knew I liked you for a reason!”
“So what should we call this?” Josi asked, hurrying after her sister and cousin. “Operation mermaid?”
“Do we really need to call it something?” Jami asked. “It’s cool enough that we get to see mermaids!”
“I think they’re a little too excited about this,” Jorja said, giggling, as the four disappeared through the trees. “What do you think?”
“What do I think? I think I’m nervous letting them out of my sight,” Josslyn said, her heart thumping inside her chest. “Aren’t you nervous about letting Jordyn out of your sight?”
“Of course I am!” Jorja cried. “I just got her back. I’m scared to death something is going to happen to her, but I also trust her. You should trust your daughters, because they’re right, Joss. They are witches, and they can take care of themselves. They’ve proved that time and time again.”
“She’s right, Joss,” Jasmine told her, as they turned, walking off in the opposite direction. “You should trust them. After all, they’re Morgans! They’ve never backed down from a challenge, not in the short time we’ve known them. They’ll be fine. After all, what could possibly go wrong?”
***
“So, where are we going to find these mermaids?” Jordyn asked, glancing over her shoulder, as her mother and aunts disappeared from sight.
“Listen.” Jessi cocked her head. “They’re singing.”
“So just follow their voices. Right,” Jami said, as they trudged along the padded path. “Let’s just hope it doesn’t kill us!”
“Jami!”
“What? You said mermaids like to lure fishermen to their deaths. What’s to say they won’t do the same to us?”
“Because their not killers,” Jessi said. “After all, either you or I could become a mermaid.”
“How?”
“By letting our hearts turn as cold as ice.”
“I guess I’ll have to keep that in mind,” Jami muttered, as they walked behind the waterfall. “So, does anyone know what Melina wants with these mermaids?”
“It’s not what Melina wants from them,” a high-pitched voice said from behind them.
“Who the hell is that?” Josi asked, jumping, and spinning around. She lifted her fists in the air. “Come out and show yourself!”
“Hey, I’m harmless. I swear,” a man said as he stepped out from the shadows, his pale face gleaming in the darkness.
“Harmless my ass,” Jami said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “You’re a demon!”
“A trickster to be precise,” the man said, disappearing in a blur, and reappearing behind them. “And this is the wasteland. Where anything goes, and where I can have as much fun as I want!” He disappeared, appearing in front of them again, pointing a finger. A golden, skeleton key appearing in the palm of his hand.
“Wait. Is that…”
“The key to the wasteland?” the trickster asked, grinning. “Yes, indeed it is.”
“Give it to me!” Josi raced forward, lunging toward him.
“Nah. Uh. Uh.” The trickster wagged a finger at her, pointing to the ground. Water sprung up from the rock, spraying Josi in the eyes.
“Agh!” Josi screamed, the ground opening up below her.
“Josi!”
Jessi, Jami, and Jordyn rushed forward, pulling her back.
“What was that for?” Josi asked, staring at the demon, wiping water from her face. “I just want the key!”
“But is this the key,” the trickster asked, closing his hand and opening it once again, the key disappearing from sight. “It’s neither here, nor there, nor in between, or in plain sight. Where oh where is it?”
“He’s speaking in riddles,” Jami said, crinkling her nose. “I hate riddles!”
“You know who he is, right?” Jessi asked.
Josi nodded. “He’s that demon from Halloween.”
“What demon?” Jordyn asked.
“The demon who sent everyone to different fairytales last Halloween,” Jami said. “Mom was stuck in Beauty and the Beast, Jade was in Cinderella, Julie was in the Little Mermaid, and Jasmine and Sky were stuck in Aladdin.” She frowned. “But what are you doing here?”
“It’s the wasteland. All demons who have been vanquished are here.”
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